OBITUARY
Martha Jane Fishback, daughter of Thomas and Martha Fishback, was born in Madison County, Virginia, September 15th, 1832, and departed this life February 25th, 1917, aged 84 years, 5 months, and 10 days. She was one of a family of ten children, all of whom have preceded her into the great beyond excepting two brothers Albert of New Martinsburg and Horace of La Fayette, Colorado.
When about four years of age, her parents having a strong desire to reach the "promised land" of the Western country, loaded their earthly possessions into a one-horse wagon, turned their faces toward the setting sun, and boldly started for the new territory. Over valleys and hills, thru virgin forests, across the Allegheny Mountains, and finally up thru the southern part of this state the little party made its way, finally settling about one mile North of East Monroe.
On June the 5th, 1850, she was united in marriage Harmanus Ellis, and to this union were born eight children-five sons and three daughters, the latter, Evangeline, Adelaide and Ursula having preceded her in death. The remainder of the children, viz. Linneaus, Conde, Oscar, Alvin and Wilbur, eight grand-children, eight great grand-children and a host of relatives and friends are left to mourn her loss.
She was a member of the Friend's Church, but for a number of years has been unable to leave her home. Kind and considerate, she was a devoted mother and administered to the wants of her family as only a mother can. But, she has passed away; another chair is vacant; another familiar face has disappeared forever from our view; the dearest tie that earth has ever known is broken; Mother has gone.
After surviving the storms of life for upward of a century, she has at last came, as we must all, to the end of life's trail, and calmly, complacently, and with the meekness of a little child, yielded to the conqueror of mankind-Death, reminding us of the Psalmist's words, "The days of our years are three-score years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be four-score years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow, for it is soon cut off and we fly away."